- Understanding the Restrict button in Messenger
- How to view restricted messages in Messenger
- How people restrict you on Messenger
- How friends stop restricting you on Facebook Messenger
- How Restrict is different from other privacy buttons
- Frequently asked questions
- What happens to messages and calls if you restrict friends on Messenger?
- Is it possible to view old and new messages when they are restricted?
- Locate restricted messages
Device links
If a friend stops responding to your messages on Facebook Messenger, you might think they’ve blocked you. However, Messenger cannot send a message to friends who have blocked you. If Messenger sends your messages but you don’t get a response, your friend has restricted you. Fortunately, even without seeing your “active status,” there is a way to view restricted messages.
This article explains how to view restricted messages in Messenger using Android, PC or iPhone.
Understanding the Restrict button in Messenger
The “Restrict” button is a useful privacy feature in Messenger. Before its appearance, people could only block those who sent unwanted messages or spam. The “Block” button would only allow them to unfriend a person. For that reason, the arrival of the “Restrict” button was a huge relief. Block conversations with people without deleting them.
If someone presses this button, the following things happen:
- You won’t see your chats with them.
- If you send them a notification, they’ll miss it.
- They will not see the “Active” status of others.
- If you send a message, you can’t know if it was read.
- Calling or texting your friend through the Messenger app will be impossible.
Messenger doesn’t send you a notification when someone restricts you. So, if you have been annoying a friend or family member on Facebook without knowing it, the signs above are the telltale signs. Please note that “Restrict” is a privacy feature only in Messenger. If an acquaintance restricts your use of Messenger, you can still see their activities on Facebook.
How to view restricted messages in Messenger
Messenger has a hidden folder that most of you don’t know about. Use this secret folder for storing spam messages. You can receive a text message from anyone on Messenger, including friends and strangers. If that message is clean, you will receive a notification. If it’s spam, Facebook will save it to a hidden vault. Therefore, you should open this folder and browse all the restricted messages.
Before doing so, confirm that a friend has restricted you. Some people turn off their “active status” in Messenger. If so, none of your friends will be able to see if they are active on Messenger. Therefore, ask a mutual friend to check the person’s “active status” and give you feedback. If you can’t see the “active status”, your friend has disabled it.
On the other hand, they have restricted interactions with you if everyone but you can see their “active status.” Now that you have confirmed, you need to navigate to the hidden app folder. Here’s how to do it on multiple devices.
personal computer
If you access Facebook Messenger on a PC, you may see restricted messages like this:
- Launch the Facebook app in your favorite browser and sign in.
- Navigate to the top right corner of your screen and click on the “Messenger” icon.
- Press the “3 dots” icon to open a menu.
- Select “Message Requests” to display a list of texts in the hidden folder.
- To see all messages, click “See all in Messenger.”
iPhone
Like most users of the Messenger app, you probably access it from your iPhone. If so, here’s how to access the hidden folder and read restricted messages:
- Launch the Messenger app on your iPhone.
- Tap the “Menu” icon.
- Choose “Message Requests.”
- Select the “You probably know” and “Spam” options. Scan your messages list to see if any text messages from the friend who restricted you are there.
Android
As an Android phone user, you can check your restricted messages in Messenger this way:
- Launch the Messenger app on your device.
- Tap the profile photo or “menu” icon in the top left corner.
- Select “Message Requests.”
- Read messages from two areas of your secret folder. First, open the “Maybe I Know” option and browse all messages. If you don’t see the ones you need, open the “Spam” folder and check.
How people restrict you on Messenger
If a friend doesn’t want to block you or unfriend you on Messenger, they’ll press the “Restrict” button. You can also use this button to stop receiving unjustified calls and messages.
Here’s how to restrict a profile in Messenger on a mobile device:
- Launch your Messenger app on your iPhone or Android device.
- Choose a message with the Messenger contact you want to restrict.
- Go to the top of the screen and tap the contact name.
- Go to “Privacy & Support” and choose “Restrict.”
Facebook hides your recent chat threads with those you’ve restricted in the app. It also blocks you from accessing the default Chats tab. If you want to see a friend’s chat messages in your “Restricted Accounts” folder, you need to look for the contact’s name in the top area. After that, open a conversation to view new and past messages.
Facebook will also remind you of all “restricted accounts” when you create a new group in the app. As such, they cannot join your groups in Messenger. However, those you restrict are still your friends on Facebook Messenger.
How friends stop restricting you on Facebook Messenger
Just as people can tap the “Restrict” button to stop interacting with you, they can tap it again to stop restricting you. Here’s how to stop restricting someone on Messenger:
- Load your Messenger app on your mobile device.
- Tap the “Menu” icon.
- Choose the “Gear” icon in the upper right corner.
- Tap “Privacy & Security” in the menu.
- Tap “Restricted Accounts.”
- Choose the name of the contact you want to remove from “Restricted Accounts.”
- Confirm the changes and finalize them by tapping “UNRESTRICT”.
How Restrict is different from other privacy buttons
Facebook provides enough privacy features to help you protect your account. The “Restrict” button is one of them and you know its function. However, you may not know how it is different from other privacy features. So, see below how “Restrict” compares to “Block” and “Mute.”
Restrict versus block
If someone blocks you on Facebook Messenger, you will no longer be able to see their profile. Therefore, you cannot send chat messages or start a video or voice call with them. Also, you can’t see their “active status” because you are no longer their friend. If someone blocks you, it shows that they’ve had enough of you. In contrast, the “Restrict” button gives your friends the power to stop interacting with you while still being your friend.
Therefore, you can see their profile but not their “active status”. They can’t see you when you’re active on Messenger or read your chats even if Facebook delivers them. If a friend restricts your access to the app, they can undo their action at any time. For that reason, a “Block” implies a permanent decision while a “Restrict” action could be temporary.
Mute vs. Restrict
A friend or family member you’ve connected with on Messenger can restrict or mute you. If they tap the “Mute” icon, they won’t hear any upcoming calls or notifications from you. However, you can view the most recent messages in the default “Chats” tab. In contrast, the “Restrict” button hides new chats completely.
It also hides the “active state” from both parties. In contrast, the “Mute” button does not change the state of any part. You both can see the “Active Status” and all upcoming messages. Additionally, a contact who mutes you on Facebook Messenger can add you to any new group they create. Those who restrict you cannot add you to any group they create.
Frequently asked questions
What happens to messages and calls if you restrict friends on Messenger?
Anyone you have added to your “Restricted Accounts” folder cannot track your online activities. Facebook will deliver your messages and call notifications, but you won’t see them. If you want to call or send a text message, you must first “unrestrict” your friend.
Is it possible to view old and new messages when they are restricted?
Facebook Messenger does not prevent you from seeing all previous conversations with those who restrict you. However, it won’t let you see anything new they post. This is because you cannot see its “active status” and vice versa. The best solution is to open the hidden vault that contains the messages you may know and the unwanted messages.
Locate restricted messages
Restrict is a vital button to protect your account from unwanted calls and texts. If someone you know restricts you, you won’t be able to see their online status or new messages. Instead, Facebook will keep restricted messages in a secret folder. Follow the simple steps above to open this folder and read all restricted messages.
